Tesoro dei Granduchi

The Treasury of the Grand Dukes occupies the Medici summer apartments on the ground floor and mezzanine of Palazzo Pitti. Hardstone vessels, rock crystal, amber, ivory and silver form a collection associated with Tuscany's ruling dynasties.

Why it matters

The museum reveals courtly collecting through precious materials and skilled craftsmanship. Medici holdings sit within a history enlarged by later dynasties, rather than representing an entirely unchanged family treasury.

What to notice

Vases carved from semi-precious stones display natural veins and colours as part of their design. Rock crystal and ivory objects contrast with silver from the collections of the bishops of Salzburg, brought to Florence by Ferdinand III of Habsburg-Lorraine. Jewellery adds another dimension to the history of personal and dynastic display. Painted architecture on the apartment walls creates an illusionistic setting around the collection.

Context and history

The fresco decoration was created for the 1637 marriage of Ferdinando II de' Medici and Vittoria della Rovere. The apartments later became a museum setting for objects of different origins. Formerly known as the Museo degli Argenti, the collection's Treasury of the Grand Dukes name reflects its wider range beyond silver alone.